Running doll or the like

ABSTRACT

A running toy such as a doll or the like, including movable legs, motor means for moving said legs, and linkage means interconnecting said motor means and said legs for effecting movement of said legs in such a manner as to propel said doll or the like forwardly with a running motion. The legs of the doll or the like have feet thereon with an enlarged smooth bottom surface; and said motor, said linkage and said enlarged smooth bottom surface of said feet cause said doll or the like to run rapidly across the surface on which it is placed without the aid of external support means or the like.

[451 May30, 1972 United States Patent 54] RUNNING DOLL OR THE LIKE 3,083,504 4/1963 Abbott.....................................46/247 [72] Inventor: Fredric Thomas Rapp, 331 Wilson St., Primary Examiner Louis GMancene Syracuse, NY.

Assistant ExaminerD. L. Weinhold AttorneyShoemaker & Mattare [22] Filed: Sept. 2, 1970 ABSTRACT [2!] App]. No.:

A running toy such as a doll or the like, including movable legs, motor means for moving said legs, and linkage means in- [51] lnt.Cl. terconnecting said motor means and said legs for effecting [58] Field of Search movement of said legs in such a manner as to propel said doll or the like forwardly with a running motion. The legs of the References Cited doll or the like have feet thereon with an enlarged smooth bottom surface; and said motor, said linkage and said enlarged smooth bottom surface of said feet cause said doll or the like UNITED STATES PATENTS to run rapidly across the surface on which it is placed without the ofexternal pp means or the 3,038,275 6/1962 Curci.......................................46/247 3,566,537 3/1971 .46/247 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Tepper et Patented May 30, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/GZ.

INVENTOR FREDRlC T. RAPP ATTORNEYS Patented May 30, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FREDRIC T. RAPP ATTORNEYS Patented May 30, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR FREDRIC T. RAPP ATTORNEYS RUNNING DOLL OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Mechanical walking toys such as dolls or the like are known in the art, and some of the prior art walking dolls or the like are capable of walking unaided in a vertical upright position while others of the prior art walking dolls require external support in order to maintain them in a vertical upright position. There are no mechanical running dolls or the like known to applicant which are capable of running rapidly across a surface without the aid of some external support means.

Applicants invention relates to a running doll or the like which includes structure capable of making the doll or the like run rapidly across a surface without the aid of external support means.

Moreover, applicants running doll or the like is sufficiently balanced and has sufficient power that it may pull or push other toys; such as carriages, wagons, and the like. Further, applicants running doll or the like will remain in an upright position even when it strikes an object such as a wall or the like and will pivot away from the wall or other abstruction and continue running in a different direction.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a toy such as a walking doll or the like which will run rapidly across the surface on which it is placed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a running mechanical doll which will run across the surface on which it is placed without the aid of external support means or the like.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a running mechanical doll or the like, which is capable of pulling or pushing other toys, such as carriages and the like.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a running mechanical doll or the like, which maintains a vertical upright position even when it strikes an obstruction such as a wall or the like, and which will reorient itself and continue running in a different direction when it strikes an obstruction.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a running mechanical doll or the like, which is extremely simple and economical in construction and operation.

An even further object of the invention is to provide a running mechanical toy such as a doll or the like, which may be provided with power means so that more than one of the dolls or the like may be operated simultaneously, such as in a race or other competition or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a front view in elevation of a running toy according to the present invention in the form of a doll.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the doll shown in FIG. 1 with the outer clothing removed, showing the general arrangement of working parts therein.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 in FIG. 2, illustrating further detail of the working parts of the running doll.

FIG. 4 is a side view in elevation of the running doll shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the mode of operation of the legs and feet of the doll.

FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the motor and linkage arrangement of the running doll.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view in elevation taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 2, illustrating the placement of the source of energy in the leg of the doll.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a pair of running dolls in accordance with applicants invention, arranged to run along rails or the like so that the dolls may be placed in competition with one another.

FIG. 8 is a view in elevation of the dolls shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, the running doll is indicated generally at l in FIG. I and is shown clothed in a dress D or the like, although the appearance of the doll or the type of clothing worn by the doll comprises no part of the present invention. As best seen in FIG. 2, the doll comprises a torso portion 2 having arms 3 and 4, legs 5 and 6 with feet F, and a head 7. The torso 2 could be extended down over the driving mechanism as shown at 2 in FIG. 2, if desired, and suitable openings could be provided in the bottom of the torso through which the linkage for the legs 5 and 6 would be extended. Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the driving mechanism comprises a mounting plate 8 suitably secured at its upper marginal edge portion to the back portion of the torso by means of a screw or bolt or the like 9 passed through a hole 10 in the central upper marginaledge portion of the plate and through an aligned hole in the lower portion of the back of the torso. A motor and drive gear mounting bracked 11 is secured to the front of the mounting plate 8 by a suitable means such as a screw or bolt or the like 12. The motor and gear mounting plate 11 has a pair of laterally extending forwardly directed brackets I2 and 13 at opposite ends thereof, in which is rotatably mounted at its opposite ends a drive shaft 15 of a suitable electric motor M. The motor M is carried on the bracket 1 l by means of an underlying shelf or platform 16 on which the motor rests and an upstanding end brace or flange 17 through which one end of the axle 15 extends. A bracket or flange 18 extends downwardly from shelf 16 at the opposite side thereof from bracket 17 and a bracket or flange 19 extends forwardly from the opposite edge of the bracket 11 in substantial alignment with the bracket 18. A driven axle or shaft 20 is rotatably mounted on and carried by said brackets 18 and 19 and carries on its opposite ends a pair of driving wheels 21 and 22. The shaft 20 and driving wheels 21 and 22 are driven by means of a drive gear 23 mounted on the motor drive shaft 15 and a driven gear 24 mounted on the shaft 20 meshed with the gear 23. A pair of generally L-shaped angle bracket members 25 and 26 are mountedadjacent the lower edge of the mounting plate 8 by a suitable means such as screws 27 or the like, extended through the mounting plate and through one leg of the brackets 25 and 26 with the other leg of the brackets extending forwardly from the plate 8. Relatively short tubular pivot members 28 and 29 are pivotally mounted to the forwardly extending legs of the L- shaped brackets 25 and 26 by suitable means such as bolts or the like 30 and 31. A pair of elongate relatively narrow leg support and drive members 32 and 33 are eccentrically pinned at their upper ends to the wheels 21 and 22 by suitable means such as a screw or the like 34 and 35 extended through the ends of the leg members 32 and 33 at the peripheral portion of the wheels 21 and 22. The leg members 32 and 33 are telescopically received through the tubular pivoted members 28 and 29, which function as fulcrum points for the legs so that the feet F are caused to move with a generally elliptical motion as the wheels 21 and 22 rotate. The lower ends of the leg members 32 and 33 extend into and are fastened to the legs 5 and 6 of the doll l by suitable means such as screws or the like 36 and 37 extended through the lower ends of the leg members 32 and 33 and through the side of the legs 5 and 6. Flexible, relatively large, smooth stabilizing pads 38 and 39 are secured to the bottom of the feet F, respectively. The smoothness of the pads permits a certain amount of slippage between the pads and the surface upon which the doll is running thus enabling the dolls feet to shift over the surface without causing the doll to tip over. The flexible pads 38 and 39 also approximate the action of the human foot in that they flex as indicated at 40 in FIG. 4 when the weight of the doll is shifted forwardly on the foot. The motion or the path followed by the feet is substantially elliptical as indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 4, and results in a fore and aft motion causing the doll to be propelled forwardly. Further, as seen in FIG. 4, the

doll has a forward tilt which moves the center of gravity forward and permits the doll to run rapidly without falling over. This forward positioning of the center of gravity is similar to the forward positioning of the center of gravity in a human when he walks or runs.

As best seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the legs 5 and 6 have hollow interiors 41 and 42, respectively, in which are positioned a suitable source of energy for the motor M such as batteries B or the like, and electrical contacts 43 and 44 are provided at opposite ends of the batteries 18 connected to a suitable on/off switch S mounted in the back of the doll, for example, as shown in FIG. 4. It is understood of course, that the switch could be mounted at any suitable position and need not be positioned on the back as shown. Suitable means are provided in each leg for replacement of the batteries B therein, and may comprise a sliding door or a pivoted door, similar to the arrangement shown specifically in FIG. 6, wherein the pad 39 is pivotly secured at one end by means of a fastening element 45 extended through the bottom of the foot and a snap retainer 46 extended through a complementary hole in the bottom of the foot so that the forward end of the pad 39 may be moved downwardly until the snap 46 is withdrawn from the bottom of the foot and the pad may then be pivoted about the retainer 45 to expose an opening 47 in the bottom of the foot for insertion and removal of the battery B therethrough. The batteries may be held in place by any suitable means and a pair of spring clips 48 and 49 are shown for this purpose. The identical construction is used in the opposite leg and detailed description thereof will not be made. Placement of the batteries B in the legs 5 and 6 results in a lower center of gravity and greatly enhances the stability of the doll, and in fact, the doll will not fall over when it strikes an obstruction, but will instead turn and procede to run in a different direction.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, a modified form of the invention is shown and comprises a doll constructed substantially in accordance with the doll illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6 but instead of having batteries B disposed within the hollow interiors of the legs 5 and 6, an external power source B is used connected to suitable rails or tracks R1 and R2 having suitable electrical conducting surfaces or strips 50 thereon and along which the dolls are guided. The battery B is connected to the electrical conducting surfaces or strips 50 through a suitable means such as a switch or rheostat 51 or the like so that the amount of power available to the motor M within the dolls may be varies and accordingly the speed of the doll varied, similar to the manner in which slot cars are operated.

As seen in FIG. 8, the motor M in each doll has a pair of wires 52 and 53 leading therefrom and through the opposite arms 3 and 4, respectively, of the doll, to a contact 54 and 55 in the opposite hands, respectively, of the doll, which contacts are adapted to slide along the conducting surface or strip 50 on the rails R1 and R2 for completing an electrical circuit through the motor to energize the doll.

By means of the aforedescribed arrangement, a doll may be placed between a pair of spaced rails R1 and R2 with its hands resting on the rails and the switch means or rheostat means 51 operated to cause electrical energy to flow through the motor and cause the doll to run between the rails R1 and R2. By this means, more than one doll may be utilized, positioned in adjacent spaced pairs of rails and caused to race against one another by suitable manipulation of controls such as the rheostat 51 connected either to both of the dolls independently of one another. For example, if the dolls are to be operated independently, a fourth rail, indicated in phantom line at R2 in FIG. 7, would be used with one of the dolls having its hand resting on that rail rather than on the common rail R2 illustrated in full lines in FIG. 7.

While the present invention has been described specifically in relation to a running doll, it is to be understood that the invention could be utilized in other forms of running animals; such as horses, dogs, cats and the like and need not be limited to a doll as shown.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. A running toy such as a doll or the like which is adapted to run rapidly over a surface without the aid of external support means comprising;

a torso;

at least one pair of legs connected to said torso for pivotal and reciprocatory movement relative thereto, a foot on each said leg, a relatively large smooth stabilizing pad on the bottom of each said foot for enhancing the balance of said running toy and for permitting limited slippage between the feet and the surface upon which the running toy is moving;

motor means mounted in said torso; and

linkage means interconnecting said motor means and said legs for effecting simultaneous pivotal and reciprocatory movement of said legs and feet so that said feet are caused to move in a rotary path and thus said feet alternately engage the surface on which the running toy is placed to propel said running toy along the surface upon which it is placed; said motor means, linkage means and relatively large smooth stabilizing pads on said feet cooperating to cause said running toy to run rapidly forward without requiring the aid of external support means or the like.

2. A running toy as in claim 1 wherein said toy comprises a doll, said doll being nonnally disposed in a generally vertical upright position.

3. A running toy as in claim 2 wherein said doll is slightly forwardly inclined so that the center of gravity thereof is forwardly disposed to aid in maintaining the balance of said doll as it runs along a surface.

4. A running toy as in claim 3, wherein battery means are provided for engerizing said motor means, said battery means being disposed in the legs of said doll to enhance the stability thereof.

5. A running toy as in claim 2 wherein said linkage means includes a pair of elongate relatively narrow leg support and drive members connected at one end to a respective one of said legs and at the other end to a peripheral portion of a pair of spaced generally circular drive wheels connected to be driven by said motor, said elongate relatively narrow leg support and drive members slidably extended through pivot means about which said elongate members are caused to pivot as said driving wheels rotate to cause the feet on said legs to move with a fore and aft motion in a generally elliptical path.

6. A running toy as in claim 5 wherein a plurality of spaced rail means are provided and a plurality of running toys are provided for operative engagement with said rail means so that said running toys may be caused to compete with another.

7. A running toy as in claim 2 wherein said pads on said feet extend forwardly beyond the ends of said feet and are flexible so that they flex to approximate the action of the human foot when the weight of said doll is shifted forwardly on said feet.

8. A running toy as in claim 5 wherein said motor means is mounted to the back of the torso of said doll transversely thereof, a drive shaft extends from one end of said motor and has a drive gear means thereon, a driven shaft is rotatably supported in fixed spaced relationship below said motor means parallel to said drive shaft and has gear means thereon meshed with said drive gear means, and said drive wheels are mounted on opposite ends of said driven shaft.

9. A running toy as in claim 8 wherein switch means is mounted on said doll and is operatively connected to selectively energize said motor means.

10. A running toy such as a doll or the like which is adapted to run rapidly over a surface without the aid of external support means comprising;

a torso;

at least one pair of legs pivotally connected to said torso, a

foot on each said leg, a relatively large smooth stabilizing pad on the bottom of each said foot for enhancing the balance of said running toy and for permitting limited slippage between the feet and the surface upon which the running toy is moving;

motor means mounted in said torso;

linkage means interconnecting said motor means and said legs for effecting movement of said legs to propel said running toy along the surface upon which it is placed; energizing means including battery means for energizing said motor means, said battery means being disposed externally of said running toy, said energizing means including rail means having electrically conductive means thereon operatively connected to said battery means to selectively receive power therefrom, and said running toy having electrically conductive means therein connected with said motor means, said electrically conductive means including electrical contact means exposed externally of said running toy and adapted to rest on said electrically conductive means on said rail means to establish an electrical circuit from said battery means through said motor means so that said running toy can be selectively caused to run between and be guided by said rail means;

said motor means, linkage means and relatively large smooth stabilizing pads on said feet cooperating to cause said running toy to run rapidly forward without requiring the aid of external support means or the like 

1. A running toy such as a doll or the like which is adapted to run rapidly over a surface without the aid of external support means comprising; a torso; at least one pair of legs connected to said torso for pivotal and reciprocatory movement relative thereto, a foot on each said leg, a relatively large smooth stabilizing pad on the bottom of each said foot for enhancing the balance of said running toy and for permitting limited slippage between the feet and the surface upon which the running toy is moving; motor means mounted in said torso; and linkage means interconnecting said motor means and said legs for effecting simultaneous pivotal and reciprocatory movement of said legs and feet so that said feet are caused to move in a rotary path and thus said feet alternately engage the surface on which the running toy is placed to propel said running toy along the surface upon which it is placed; said motor means, linkage means and relatively large smooth stabilizing pads on said feet cooperating to cause said running toy to run rapidly forward without requiring the aid of external support means or the like.
 2. A running toy as in claim 1 wherein said toy comprises a doll, said doll being normally disposed in a generally vertical upright position.
 3. A running toy as in claim 2 wherein said doll is slightly forwardly inclined so that the center of gravity thereof is forwardly disposed to aid in maintaining the balance of said doll as it runs along a surface.
 4. A running toy as in claim 3, wherein battery means are provided for engerizing said motor means, said battery means being disposed in the legs of said doll to enhance the stability thereof.
 5. A running toy as in claim 2 wherein said linkage means includes a pair of elongate relatively narrow leg support and drive members connected at one end to a respective one of said legs and at the other end to a peripheral portion of a pair of spaced generally circular drive wheels connected to be driven by said motor, said elongate relatively narrow leg suppoRt and drive members slidably extended through pivot means about which said elongate members are caused to pivot as said driving wheels rotate to cause the feet on said legs to move with a fore and aft motion in a generally elliptical path.
 6. A running toy as in claim 5 wherein a plurality of spaced rail means are provided and a plurality of running toys are provided for operative engagement with said rail means so that said running toys may be caused to compete with another.
 7. A running toy as in claim 2 wherein said pads on said feet extend forwardly beyond the ends of said feet and are flexible so that they flex to approximate the action of the human foot when the weight of said doll is shifted forwardly on said feet.
 8. A running toy as in claim 5 wherein said motor means is mounted to the back of the torso of said doll transversely thereof, a drive shaft extends from one end of said motor and has a drive gear means thereon, a driven shaft is rotatably supported in fixed spaced relationship below said motor means parallel to said drive shaft and has gear means thereon meshed with said drive gear means, and said drive wheels are mounted on opposite ends of said driven shaft.
 9. A running toy as in claim 8 wherein switch means is mounted on said doll and is operatively connected to selectively energize said motor means.
 10. A running toy such as a doll or the like which is adapted to run rapidly over a surface without the aid of external support means comprising; a torso; at least one pair of legs pivotally connected to said torso, a foot on each said leg, a relatively large smooth stabilizing pad on the bottom of each said foot for enhancing the balance of said running toy and for permitting limited slippage between the feet and the surface upon which the running toy is moving; motor means mounted in said torso; linkage means interconnecting said motor means and said legs for effecting movement of said legs to propel said running toy along the surface upon which it is placed; energizing means including battery means for energizing said motor means, said battery means being disposed externally of said running toy, said energizing means including rail means having electrically conductive means thereon operatively connected to said battery means to selectively receive power therefrom, and said running toy having electrically conductive means therein connected with said motor means, said electrically conductive means including electrical contact means exposed externally of said running toy and adapted to rest on said electrically conductive means on said rail means to establish an electrical circuit from said battery means through said motor means so that said running toy can be selectively caused to run between and be guided by said rail means; said motor means, linkage means and relatively large smooth stabilizing pads on said feet cooperating to cause said running toy to run rapidly forward without requiring the aid of external support means or the like. 